West Ham United and arch rivals Millwall both want to sign non-league star Olly Box
West Ham want to sign non-league midfielder Olly Box but face extensive competition from local rivals including Millwall, according to HITC.
The outlet reported via their website on 23 February that the Dartford player has been impressing of late, scoring three times in his past two games in front of a host of scouts.
From the Premier League Crystal Palace are also interested, as are Brentford, while League One Leyton Orient round out the London-based suitors, with Middlesbrough the only reported side from outside the capital in the hunt.
All of the clubs are said to have been “looking closely” at the 18-year-old after he broke into the first-team at National League South Dartford and hit the ground running.
Crystal Palace and Brentford rival West Ham for Box
Attacking recruits remain the priority after an odd January transfer window which saw both Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals leave while replacement deals collapsed.
David Moyes drove the pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan and got his way, but it has so far turned out disastrously for the former Leeds United star.
Whether it is the manager or Tim Steidten who is behind the interest in Box may be crucial as to whether he has a chance of actually heading to the club, as the German seems to have stronger backing from the within the club at present.
But with the future of both up in the air, with poor Irons form leaving the manager’s contract extension in question, and Liverpool believed to be interested in landing the technical director, the overall future at the London Stadium is unclear.
Youngsters haven’t broken through to a great extent under Moyes in recent years, and if Box has the pick of his options it may be that he would rather choose to step up to the second or third tier before the top.
In other West Ham news, a BBC Sport pundit believes a handshake deal is now on the cards for David Moyes to exit the London Stadium.
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